News

The Bee Network officially rolls out in Oldham and Rochdale as more buses join local transport system

The pieces in the public journey jigsaw are gradually falling into place.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 25th March 2024

The Bee Network just keeps getting bigger with a new fleet of eco-buses having now rolled out in Oldham and Rochdale as Greater Manchester continues to integrate its new transport network.

With many city centre buses having been franchised across the likes of Wigan and Bolton since the Bee Network officially launched back in September 2023, the new centralised public transport system is becoming a real hive of activity (pardon the pun).

Now making up approximately more than half of the region’s wider bus network, with more bright yellow buses put into service across the likes of Bury and Salford as well, the vision for the Bee Network is slowly starting to take shape.

Celebrating this latest phase in the long-term plan for a universal and centralised public transport network across all ten boroughs, Mayor Andy Burnham hopped on board one of the new vehicles to show off the improvements made to bus journeys here in Greater Manchester.

The Bee Network has finally arrived in Oldham and Rochdale with more boroughs soon to follow.

As you can see, not only are the new Bee Network buses an obvious upgrade on many existing lines running in and around the city centre for the past two decades, but there are more of them on more key routes, including 50 new zero-emission vehicles and 84 new, best-in-class low emission buses too.

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Reducing costs for the likes of those travelling in and out of Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and Salford is also a massive win since these routes have come under local control too, with the combined tram and bus tickets – making most journeys 20% cheaper, to be more precise.

As per the latest stats from Transport for Greater Manchester, the Bee Network is already proving to be offering more reliable service than prior to franchising, with 74.30% of buses on time between 1 January and 19 March compared to 67.62% of commercial services and 62.75% during the same period in 2023.

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The number of people using Bee Network services has also increased, with the average number of weekday passengers having grown by over five per cent and hitting a high of 141,720 on 6 March across more than 17 million journeys since it began. The results are plain to see and they’re stopping there.

Plans for 24/7 ‘night bus’ trial on some services in Greater Manchester revealed
Trials of bikes on trams and ‘tap in, tap out’ train travel are also being tested out this year.

Read more:

The goal is to have all of Greater Manchester‘s buses fold into the Bee Network by January 2025 and whilst we’re still in the early days of this centralised shift, it’s great to see such progress being made so far and how it’s already benefiting locals around the region.

This latest chapter comes just a week or so after the brand-new Stockport Interchange was officially opened to the public as well, a borough which is also hoping to see more buses and potential plans for an extension of the Metrolink tram system coming their way.

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Burnham also reiterated longer-term plans to start bringing some Greater Manchester railway lines back under local control as well, with an aim to have at least eight train routes come under the network by 2028.

With Bee bikes, the rejuvenated trams and more new buses than ever, what have you made of the Bee Network experience so far?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Bee Network/Michael Ely (via Geograph)

News

A local employment charity is looking to raise £25,000 for Greater Manchester women this Christmas

Danny Jones Danny Jones Womens employment charity Greater Manchester

The regional arm of a nationwide employment charity that specialises in helping women into the workplace is aiming to raise a minimum of £25,000 for Greater Manchester locals this Christmas.

Smarts Works, an organisation that does crucial work to combat unemployment all over the UK, is ramping up its year-round efforts this festive period – a time that can prove difficult for many – to help women secure jobs and support those that land them in their new roles.

Teaming up with, The Big Give (the leading match-funding programme in the country), the charity hopes to potentially double its target amount to reach what could be a life-changing sum or hundreds if not thousands across the region.

Not only will this crucial funding help support Smart Works in its mission to empower unemployed women, equipping them with the confidence, skills and tools they need to secure employment, but it will also help spread awareness and access surrounding the organisation’s vital services.

Credit: Smart Works (supplied)


Starting from the week commencing on Tuesday, 3 December and running until 10 December, any financial donation Smart Works receives for their Christmas fundraiser will be matched by The Big Give.

This means that should they surpass their £25k target, they could potentially unlock over £50k for their centres here in Manchester and Stockport, with other facilities providing much-needed help all over the North West.

How much they manage to raise by the end of the week, the money will go towards funding tailored coaching sessions, interview preparation new starter support and even supplying applicants with work-
appropriate clothing for women who need it most around the region.

Better than just helping people enter or get back into the working world, Smart Works also supports unemployed women right throughout the process, from making sure they dress for the job they want, receiving coaching to nail the interview and continuing to provide help once they’ve started.

Over two-thirds of women who use the Smart Works service find employment within a month of their
appointment. Last year in Greater Manchester alone, Smart Works helped more than 833 women; nationally into work and the charity aims to support 10,000 women nationwide this year.

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The fundraising page opens from 12pm today (3 December) and will remain open until the same time a week from now, giving us Mancs plenty of chance to make a difference.

Another key area of Smart Works’ most important areas of work is outreach: i.e. actively engaging with townships and villages, referral partners and job fairs to encourage as many referrals as possible, which goes a long way to building stronger community connections.

During the challenging holiday season and with a cost of living crisis still looming large over all of us, the value of initiatives like this in Manchester and the work done by the important employment charity cannot be overstated.

You can do your bit by donating HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Smarts Works Greater Manchester (supplied)

News

Gregg Wallace apologises after Downing Streets labels ‘middle-class women’ comments ‘misogynistic’

Danny Jones Danny Jones Gregg Wallace apologises for middle class women comments

Gregg Wallace has issued an official apology as he looks to be in increasing trouble not only over recent reports of his misconduct on set but his subsequent reaction to the allegations and now viral “middle-class women” comments.

The 60-year-old MasterChef presenter and well-known foodie face stepped down from the BBC cooking show last week after a total of 13 people came forward to complain about his ‘sexual’ behaviour over the course of a 17-year period.

Despite having denied an initial accusation from a former female colleague regarding an incident back in 2018, in which insists no comments or actions of a sexual nature were made, a dozen more individuals have now submitted historical complaints to the corporation and a full investigation is underway.

However, in an Instagram story shared on Sunday, Wallace was quick to dismiss the claims made by what he called “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” – a response which was quickly met with a severe backlash online.

Equally problematic was his suggestion that because he had worked with an estimated 2,000 people during his time on the show the words of “only 13” women were somehow less valid and/or believable.

Having also shared a video thanking all of those supporting him, as well as numerous other stories featuring personal messages from people both on and off the show defending him, he has continued to rebuke those who have put his conduct over the past two decades under a microscope.

That being said, it looks as though the now former TV personality and household name is doubling back after even Downing Street came out to condemn his comments, with a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelling the response video “completely inappropriate and misogynistic.”

Having since deleted a number of his IG stories and now shared a follow-up video to his initial reply, telling his followers: “I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people.”

He said that he was not in a “good head space” when he posted the response and has been dealing with a lot of stress since the story broke, adding, “I felt very alone.” You can see the clip down below.

As you see, the ex-green grocer and restaurant owner said he intends to step away from the story for now and let the in-house investigation move forward without interruption.

Both the BBC and production company, Banijay UK – who make MasterChef and the various spin-off series on which Gregg Wallace has served as a co-host – are currently conducting an internal review of those complaints made by former contestants and staff, including a BBC news anchor.

While none of the allegations are yet to be proved, one former male contestant reportedly told Sky News that the current allegations are just the “tip of the iceberg“, claiming he witnessed a “toxic environment” and was so “horrified” he considered quitting the show on his first day.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC/Gregg Wallace (screenshots via Instagram/YouTube)

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